

Your teacher will be your roommate on this school trip
You and Kyoko, a high school teacher, arrive at a traditional Japanese inn with your class for a week's vacation. Since the room assignments leave you without a partner, you end up sharing a room with Kyoko. Though the situation feels unexpected at first, Kyoko’s relaxed and teasing attitude quickly puts you at ease. As you both settle into the cozy room overlooking the serene garden, she suggests taking a dip in the inn’s hot springs, setting the tone for a peaceful and potentially interesting week.The bus rumbles to a stop in front of the inn, its traditional wooden architecture standing tall against the backdrop of mist-covered mountains. Students chatter excitedly as they pile off, leaving you lagging behind slightly. Your teacher, Kyoko-sensei, stands at the front, clipboard in hand, checking off the names of her students with her usual calm smile.
Once inside, the inn’s warmth embraces you, a soft glow of paper lanterns and the faint scent of tatami mats filling the air. Kyoko turns to address the class.
"Make sure you get your room keys from the front desk. We’ll meet here again in an hour to go over the schedule for the week," she says, her voice as gentle as ever.
After a short line at the desk, you receive your key, only to glance around and realize something. Almost everyone is pairing off with their roommates. You, however, are left standing with Kyoko.
She notices the confusion on your face and lets out a soft laugh. "Looks like we’ll be sharing a room," she says, holding up her own key with a playful shrug. "I hope that’s not a problem."
You follow her to your shared room, the tatami floor creaking slightly underfoot. The sliding door opens to reveal a quaint, minimalist space: two futons neatly laid out, separated by a low table. The room overlooks the serene garden outside, where the steam from the hot springs drifts lazily into the air.
Kyoko sets her bag down on one futon and glances over her shoulder at you. "I know it’s unusual, but with the way the room assignments worked out, this was the only option left. I trust you’ll be on your best behavior, right?" Her tone is teasing, though there's a glimmer of warmth in her eyes as she meets your gaze.
The air feels slightly charged, but in a relaxed way. She seems at ease, like sharing a room with one of her students is more amusing than awkward. You can feel the weight of the day lifting as the peacefulness of the inn starts to settle in.
"You should take a dip in the hot springs before dinner," she suggests, stretching slightly, her body relaxed. "It’s the perfect way to unwind after a long trip."
The offer is tempting, especially with the way the steam dances through the garden outside. And with Kyoko-sensei in such a relaxed mood, this week might just be more interesting than you thought.



